Chapter 29

Minashi flopped back onto Hiruzen's couch as she watched the door shut behind Team Cheetah. They'd finally finished up their verbal reports. She was already jealous of them. They could go home and get rid of the sand.

"How was it really Minashi?" Hiruzen asked after throwing the privacy barrier back up.

"They are a smooth team. They were able to adapt easily with the additional Shinobi yet kept them as priority as mission dictated. It would have been nice to know that she was the Fiancé of the Kazekage." She eyed him tiredly.

"You seemed already upset. I didn't think confirming that they were already intended would do you any favors." He sighed. "How did negotiations go?" he said opening the treaty scroll to review.

"Minashi is blunt." Orochimaru deadpanned. "But she got the job done without completely causing an international incident."

"Aw, Oro-chan, you do like me!" she smiled at him coyly. "That is one of the nicest things you've said about me."

Orochimaru just gave her a blank face. Minashi held his gaze with one of her own. Their staring contest continued even as Jiraiya and Tsunade gave their reports.

"We were not really needed." Jiraiya chuckled as he eyed the staring duo. "Minashi has plenty of Political experience to make it all go smooth. Especially once she got Rasa to see at her level."

"Her level?" Hiruzen asked, also eyeing his genius student and Minashi's staring contest.

"She humanized him." Tsunade said. "She treated him like she treats everyone. Especially you. Reminded him that she understands his burdens. That he can share them. I think they still have some work to do to build whatever friendship she was aiming for, but there is promise."

"You should just give her your hat Sensei." Orochimaru smirked. Minashi snarled but didn't blink.

"You three know I've tried. She won't take it."

Minashi sighed. "Not yet at least. My physical body is only 5 remember?"

"Eh, technicalities." Jiraiya chuckled. "So brat, I have a favor to ask you when you've stopped teasing Orochimaru."

"What?" Orochimaru hissed.

Tsunade walked over to Minashi and eyed her before poking her. Minashi shimmered before disappearing and showing that the actual Minashi had never moved from her original position.

A cerulean eye popped open from Minashi's resting position to see Orochimaru blinking at her confused and in a bit of approval. Tsunade looked curious as well.

"When did you lay the genjutsu?" Tsunade asked.

"I can't do Genjutsu." Minashi yawned.

"What was that then?" Orochimaru asked.

"Fuuinjutsu." Minashi yawned and held up the tag she'd activated when they thought 'she' had sat up to stare at Orochimaru. "Can't do Genjutsu, but it doesn't mean I can't make Fuuinjutsu do it for me. Troublesome bugger to work out too."

Orochimaru snatched it from her and started mumbling to himself as he worked out the theory behind her Fuuin tag.

Tsunade just rolled her eyes before eyeing the exhaustion in Minashi's gaze.

"Will you be alright brat, or will I be seeing you in the hospital soon?"

"I only wore out my physical body. As long as my clone isn't too exhausted, I should be fine. Otherwise…" She hummed as she thought about it. "I make no promises."

Tsunade chuckled and pushed Minashi to move over. "Let me see if Kurama and I can work to ease it first before you release the Blood Clone."

Minashi hummed as Tsunade pulled her head onto the elder's lap. The familiar feel of iryojutsu flooded her system and she sighed when she felt the minor aches ease.

"What as the favor Ero-sannin?" she hummed.

"I'm writing another book-"

"Different from your first one. You need an editor." She concluded already knowing where this was going. Her and Naruto had taken turns editing his works between training with Kurama's chakra.

Jiraiya nodded. "I had it published then?"

"Yes. Your work was loved across the elemental nations." She confirmed smirking. His own smirk was stopped by her next sentence. "But I'm also going to help make it better. In my editing, I'm going to be fixing your romance sections."

"Even-"

Minashi rolled her eyes and rolled to face Tsunade's stomach. Her hands moved to follow and work on her other side.

"No Baka. You write those parts, I'll just make sure the women will also enjoy the book."

"Deal!" he exclaimed. "I'll drop it off at your Apartment." He was gone in a shushin.

Minashi grinned foxily into Tsunade's stomach.

"You're up to something brat." She whispered.

"As an author of the series as well, he'll have to split the profits." Minashi looked up to Honey brown to watch them widen before she burst out laughing.

"Alright you two." Hiruzen called with his own smile in place. "Finish healing up and dismissed. I'll review the treaty and call you if I need anything cleared up." He looked to Orochimaru. "Are you good for another mission or do you need rest as well?"

"I can take one, just please not near heat." He grumbled.

Hiruzen nodded and tossed him a scroll. "It's only B-rank, but it's a high-profile client. I need someone I trust to complete it."

"Consider it done." Orochimaru was then gone in his own shushin. Tsunade and Minashi were gone only a few minutes later.

Minashi groaned into her pillow the following morning. Tsunade's healing had done wonders, but She'd also went back to living at the Hatake compound since Kushina had border patrol near Cha Country (Tea). Minato had been on the mission with Kitsune, so 'Minashi' had been with the Hatake's. Sakumo had kept their training light for the most part, but the Kakashi had still been brutal when they did train. Her tiny body was experiencing the strain from her own mission and the muscle pains from training hard.

She was glad it was Sunday. She could rest. She had also ended up missing another appointment with Inojiro. Instead he'd asked her clone to make sure to come see him if She needed time to talk after the mission. She'd have to let him know it was just S-rank because it was politically intense.

"Mina!" Kashi scolded from her door. "It's after sunrise! Come on, let's get to training. Tou-san said we could work on a few jutsus today."

Minashi turned her head to view excited coal eyes through her messy blonde hair.

"Kashi?" she called as sweetly as possible without moving.

"Hai?" he asked tilting his head cutely.

"Hug first please?" She pouted.

Kashi groaned. "Mina, please! I really want to learn a new jutsu! Tou-san promised." He whined.

"Please Kashi." Minashi let her voice tremble. "I had a sad dream."

Kashi looked away sheepish before sighing and crawling into her futon. Minashi grinned triumphantly into his chest.

"Better?" He asked.

"Hm." Minashi hummed as she slipped the seal onto his lower back beneath his shirt.

"Fuuin." She mouthed. Kakashi stiffened when he felt his body betray him and sleep take over his mind.

Minashi purred into his chest as she fell back to sleep herself. I love Fuuinjutsu. Was her last conscious thought.

Sakumo looked up from the game of Shogi he was playing with himself. Looking around he realized that the house had gone awfully quiet.

Sakumo stood and went hunting for his pups' signatures and scents. He found them both in Minashi's room. He sighed and shook his head.

"Come on you two, if you want to learn new jutsu, you'll need to get up. Kakashi, I sent you up here to wake her, not join her." He rubbed a hand through his hair. When neither child flinched, he frowned and stepped closer.

He shook Kakashi but his boy was out cold. Frowning, he looked Minashi over to see that she too was dead to the world clinging to Kakashi. Really concerned now, he moved Kakashi to check him over. It was during that when he found it. There was a seal on his back. He didn't' dare pull it off until he'd figured out what it was.

After a few minutes, he still couldn't make sense of it. Sakumo called up one of his wolves and sent for Jiraiya. In the meantime, he checked Minashi over for a tag. He found none and relaxed a bit. He watched though as once he'd done checking her over, Minashi frowned and grunted in her sleep before sniffing the air. She growled before patting for Kakashi. She found him and then yanked them back together.

The little girl let out a pleased hum before slipping back into a deep sleep, drool and everything.

"What's up?" Jiraiya called from the doorway less than five minutes later.

Sakumo looked over his shoulder to his friend. "That was quick."

"I was in the neighborhood. Just got back from a mission and wanted to check on the brat. Was hoping to check the other seal as well."

Sakumo waved to her and the bared back of Kakashi. "Have at it. I can't make sense of the seal. I don't have enough training in it to fully understand it."

Jiraiya chuckled and lifted Kakashi's shirt up more. "Minashi is an Uzumaki. One skilled in Fuuinjutsu. Minato is proud. Kushina is ecstatic." He paused and snickered. "I think she takes after Kushina. She's not a morning person when she just wants to have a day to relax. The seal is nothing more than a sleep one. Kakashi will sleep until his body gets the sleep it needs. He'll then wake up." He put the shirt back and moved to sit on Minashi's side. He carefully turned her hips so he could bare her stomach.

Sakumo whistled when Jiraiya called the seal up to her skin.

"That's some fancy seal work."

Jiraiya snorted. "You don't even know what you're looking at."

"Nope, but it looks more complicated than Kushina's was."

Jiraiya nodded absently as he found all the differences Minashi has added into it. He ignored the fact that it was indeed open. He tilted his head though when he found something interesting.

"What?" Sakumo asked seeing his impressed look.

"They'll never get the fox without killing them both in the end." Jiraiya whispered.

"Who? What? Why?" Sakumo frowned confused.

"He's attached to her soul. They might be able to live a few minutes after extraction, but she's friends with the fox. He'll seek revenge on whoever killed his host before he joins her." He frowned deeper when he found something he couldn't understand. "This other part…" he trailed off.

Pulling out his Fuuin supplies he started copying her seal down and the secondary component that didn't make sense to him.

"Is it dangerous?" Sakumo frowned.

"No, not that I'm aware of, but it's just a very subtle change in the tail of a character. It doesn't look like a Master's handwriting style. Nor their signature. I'm not really sure, I'd have to have the key to her seal to be able to see the seal uncompressed. But that is impossible. No one knows where her seal might even be."

"Wouldn't she know?" Sakumo asked as Jiraiya packed up his notes.

White hair shook with his no. "The key is always kept separate from the jinchuriki until they are ready to start handling the Bijuu's chakra. Inojiro reported that he hasn't seen anything on where the key is or who would have it." Jiraiya said truthfully. Especially when he'd asked his question about it to his sensei. Hiruzen had said that he wouldn't know if she had it or if it was stored with her summons. But it was the weirdness of Jiraiya's summons that had a theory running through his head.

"But she can access Bijuu chakra." Sakumo said confused.

"Hm?" Jiraiya asked absently.

"She was covered in a cloak of pure Bijuu chakra when she arrived." Sakumo frowned.

Jiraiya mentally cursed Sakumo and his brilliant mind. Dark eyes looked up to meet sharp dark eyes.

"She is also in contact with her Bijuu. She's good about it, but I've seen her eyes glaze over and go silent. I realized it was them having a conversation. Kushina never had good words about him. Minashi calls him friend, but I don't know if I can trust the word of a child that might be under manipulation." Sakumo narrowed his eyes on his old friend.

Jiraiya swallowed.

"Jiraiya." He called firmly. Jiraiya returned Minashi to her normal position and covered the two kids back up. He then waved to Sakumo to followed him out. They ended back up in the main room where Jiraiya turned to him abruptly with the face that was supposed to be reserved for the battlefield only.

"I can't tell you Sakumo. I can't tell you anything else. Only the Hokage and his Advisor are allowed to tell anyone."

"This Kitsune person?" Sakumo narrowed his eyes.

"Hai. You will have to take it up with them." Jiraiya internally winced. Minashi would fillet him for this later.

"I think I will."

Jiraiya sighed and jerked a thumb back to the kids' room. "They'll sleep it off. They are just kids. If they don't get a proper amount of sleep, it catches up to them. Minashi's body is telling her this. She is just forcing Kakashi to listen to his own."

Sakumo stared at his friend with a hard gaze before his body slowly relaxed one muscle at a time. He rolled his neck before cracking it.

"I'm trusting you about this because I know you would only withhold information if it was for the best, or safety of another. Never to be hurtful." He looked back at Jiraiya. "I'll take my inquires to the Hokage and his Advisor."

With a few more pleasantries, Jiraiya dismissed himself to warn his sensei about Sakumo.

"Yo, Sensei, We need to chat about the brat." He started as he landed on the windowsill ten minutes later.

Hiruzen looked up from his paperwork to find Jiraiya with stress worrying his eyes.

"Jiraiya?"

"Sakumo is getting it in his mind that Minashi is being manipulated."

Hiruzen waved him in and dismissed his ANBU. The privacy seal went up and Jiraiya grabbed a seat.

"How so?"

"Thinks the fox is manipulating her. Wants to know how she is able to access his chakra already after I said something about the key being needed. He also has expressed his distrust in Kitsune as well. I think Kitsune and Sakumo need to meet face to face to clear things up."

Hiruzen nodded. "I was hoping we would have to until Minashi finished academy. That was our plan at least."

"What plan?" Jiraiya frowned.

Hiruzen just stared even as his eyes sparkled with mirth. Jiraiya felt a shudder go down his spine.

"That is for Kitsune and I to worry about. Do not worry about Sakumo, we'll handle him. How is Minashi-chan?" he asked changing the subject.

"Exhausted. She's sleeping it off and forcing Kakashi to join her."

Hiruzen nodded pleased. "Good. If Sakumo comes to the office today, I'll divert him to tomorrow when Kitsune will be available again."

"Don't you think she's pushing herself Sensei?"

"Of course I do. But that is the price for now. It will get easier as her body grows accustom to it. She will still get her second childhood. Team Cheetah has been grounded for the upcoming week as a reward for doing well in Suna. This will allow Kitsune to have free time to mingle as well. Minashi will also be able to spend time with family. Kushina is still on patrol duty, but Minato will be home for bonding. Minashi also missed another session with Inojiro due to the mission running over. So, she will not get another mission at least until after Saturday." Hiruzen then smirked at him. "You like her."

Jiraiya smirked. "She's an amazing Kunoichi. She's offered to train with us, and after seeing her spar with the Kazekage, I'm excited. She completed Minato's Rasengan."

Hiruzen choked on his pipe and stared at Jiraiya. "She did what?"

Jiraiya blinked. "Didn't we report that?"

"NO." He growled.

"Oh. Whoops." He shrugged. "he didn't believe her about her past, so he believed that if she had really fought his son that she said was stronger at magnet release than him, that she would be able to beat him. And she did. Beautifully done too."

"Jiraiya" Hiruzen sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Ne, Sensei, have you thought of having Kushina spar with her? Minashi is a skilled swordswoman. What's the other Kunoichi's name…. AH Mikoto Uchiha right? They should spar two on one. I think it would be a good lesson all around-"

"Jiraiya." Hiruzen's voice was hard as annoyed brown eyes locked on this student.

Jiraiya snapped his mouth shut.

"Please report all activities of Kitsune when she is on diplomatic missions. She had the power of my voice. She could have declared war."

"but she didn't. She just gained an ally that will be powerful once the exchange programs she convinced Rasa into begin."

"Yes. I saw those." Hiruzen mumbled. "Why doesn't she just take the damn hat already?" He mumbled to himself, yet Jiraiya asked himself the same in his head.

"Do you need anything else Jiraiya?"

Jiraiya opened his mouth and paused. "I would like to take either Minashi or Kitsune to the Toad mountain. Pa popped in before we hit Suna. He requested we brought the foxy girl in sooner rather than later."

Hiruzen sighed and rubbed a temple. "When Kitsune reports in, I'll inform her. You'll work around her schedule."

"Hai."

"Dismissed." Jiraiya was gone in a swirl of leaves.

Minashi yawned as she sat on the front porch of the Hatake Compound. The sun still hadn't risen yet. Which meant she had a couple hours to herself. She sipped at the cup of water she'd gotten when she woke up.

Her and Kakashi had slept Sunday away. Sakumo had woken them for dinner. Kakashi then just crawled back in bed. Minashi wasn't far behind. It seemed that Minashi had been right about Kakashi. He hadn't been sleeping right. Sneaking out to train, waking early to get back into their morning training routine. He'd coaxed Minashi's clone out a few nights. They were both in desperate need of sleep.

Now She was deciding on if she wanted to go to the academy and get in some training. 'Kitsune' had received a summons through a small monkey ten minutes ago about Sakumo. But she had also been informed that team Cheetah had a week off, Kitsune included. It was a reward apparently. Minashi didn't question it.

She could only let a predatory grin slip past her lips. A clone popped up beside her and took the cup of water.

"You are skipping academy again boss?" The clone whined even as Minashi turned it into a Blood Clone. "Why? Kakashi said it was going to be more lectures."

"Right. Just sleep through them." She snorted. "I have something more interesting to do."

Understanding lit up in the clone's eyes as it smirked at her. "Have fun." It called as Minashi disappeared in a swirl.

She reappeared on the outskirts of the Hyuuga Compound. Her child form melting away into a small fox. She then bounded over the Hyuuga walks to check her Fuuin tags left there before she left. None had been discovered or disturbed. Please she left and headed for an alleyway closer to the Hokage Tower. There the transformation shifted, and she added in the Blood Henge. Kitsune left the alley with a pleased smirk as she made her way to the Jounin lounge. There she could sit and wait.

"Fuuin" She whispered as she stepped into the Lounge. She felt the seals activate. She wasn't surprised to find the lounge empty. So, she went to the coffee bar and made a drink to finish waking herself up. She then settled on a couch and pulled Jiraiya's Manuscript from a seal on her arm. She's sent a clone out for it before she left the Hatake compound.

This would kill the time until her seals produced results. Minashi kicked her feet up across the coffee table, propped the script on her thighs, pencil in one hand, coffee in the other, and went to work.

Hitoshi Hyuuga rubbed his eyes. Opening them, the scene before him didn't change. He stared at his own reflection and everything about himself was orange. Clothes, skin, hair, even his eyes. Kami.

"Hitoshi-sama!" An urgent cry came at his door.

"I know." He called back and opened his door. "I'll head to the Hokage. Start the search."

Hitoshi kept his chin high as he walked through Konoha towards the Hokage Tower. He saw the looks he was getting. Shock, surprise, and even hidden smiles of laughter. He kept his face calm and kept a steady pace. Rushing would do nothing but admit that it bothered him that his entire being was stained an obnoxious color.

What worried him a bit were the few jounins he passed that were either grinning in victory or groaning in defeat.

Hitoshi waited patiently outside the Hokage's office a bit later. Ayumi, the Hokage's secretary was almost rudely staring at him. Eyes wide, mouth pinched tightly closed.

A Chuunin left the office and startled at seeing Hitoshi waiting outside.

"H-he'll see you now." Ayumi stuttered. Hitoshi rose and walked past the gawking Chuunin.

He calmly shut the door behind him and looked up to see Hiruzen reviewing a scroll.

"Hitoshi, I normally don't get to be graced with your presence-" Hiruzen said before lifting his head finally at the end and he just froze and his face went blank.

"You may laugh Hiruzen." Hitoshi said grabbing a seat.

Hiruzen didn't though instead his head slammed onto the desk.

Hitoshi raised a brow at his Hokage. "Hokage-sama?"

"Damn. I just lost."

Hitoshi's eyes widened in realization. "You set up a bet on the prankster that hit the Uchiha?" he gasped in realization. "you know who it is!" he accused.

Hiruzen snorted and lifted his face. Hitoshi glared at the smirking Hokage.

"Of course, I'm Hokage. But I still lost the bet on who would be hit next."

"Why on earth is there a bet going around about this prankster? They are breaking into compounds-"

"Very easily." Hiruzen interrupted. Hitoshi snapped his mouth shut. He had a point.

"Where in the world is the profits going then?"

"The orphanages." Hiruzen sighed getting himself back under control. Hitoshi relented.

"Then I request for someone from the Sealing division to pay us a visit along with one of Konoha's sealing Masters. We would like advice on how to avoid this sort of thing again."

"You might also want to check with the Uchiha. I hear their Police Task force has been researching new protocols that are even being considered for the gates and night patrols."

"I will consider that. Would your prankster have informed you on how long this will last?"

Hiruzen shook his head. "Sadly no. I'm not that informed about them. But if I'm not mistaking the Uchiha should still be under the influence of their prank. The seals weren't found and broken. Only a strong genjutsu is protecting them."

Hitoshi sighed and closed his tired eyes.

Hiruzen observed the Clan head before him and tilted his head curiously. "Though Hitoshi, I think you might be in a little more luck."

"How so?" Hitoshi asked.

Hiruzen eyed him longer. "I know I'm getting old, but are you getting darker in some places and lighter in others?"

Hitoshi glanced down to see that his clothes were darkening and his skin was losing it's orange tint.

"Yes." He said amazed.

"You can rule out timed then." Hiruzen smiled happily. "It looks like some sort of proximity seal."

Hitoshi's eyes widened. "That's why the shinobi weren't affected until they were in the compound." He whispered.

Hiruzen Nodded. "The longer you're away from the compound, the more it wears off."

"But how long will this last?"

Hiruzen shrugged smirking. Hitoshi groaned.

"Anything else I can help with Hitoshi?"

"No. Thank you with figuring out with what we could." Hitoshi stood and bowed, dismissing himself.

Hiruzen waited for Hitoshi to shut the door before he threw up the Privacy seal and tossed his head back in laughter.

"OH KAMI!" he roared holding his stomach as he continued to let his laughter echo through the room.

His ANBU guard let out their own snickers from their shadows. Absently they enjoyed seeing their Hokage happy.

Minashi felt the couch dip beside her. She didn't have to look up to know who it was. She just kept reading Jiraiya's next chapter. She'd already rewritten the romance to be less raunchy and more appealing to the female audience. She was now editing the smut. Jiraiya was good at describing the woman, but to please his female authors, she was adding in descriptions of the men.

"I've never seen you in here before." Minato asked as he blew on a cup of coffee.

"Never really had free time." She muttered back frowning at a section before fixing Jiraiya's horrible grammar again. "Plus, Hiruzen said I needed friends. So, I'm attempting to be more social." She shrugged and turned to the next page. She looked up to find Minato in his Jounin gear. He almost looked the same from Kakashi's old team photo. Though some baby fat still lingered in his cheeks and there weren't as many crows' feet forming or wrinkles from his smiles.

"Well, this is a good place. It's also gossip central." He warned. Minashi chuckled.

"I can handle a few gossips."

"Uh huh." He muttered into his own cup of coffee, but his eyes were not on her any longer.

Minashi followed his gaze to see that the numbers of Jounin really had increased over the past few hours that she'd been hanging there. Granted it was also late morning. She was surprised no one else had approached her.

Although that might have been her choice of wear as well. She'd chosen something more original than her ANBU uniform or the Jounin uniform Hiruzen had given her.

She had one arm through her black trimmed Cerulean blue Kimono top. A black belt kept it closed at her waist. Her other arm was free, baring her chest that was only wrapped in chest bindings. Her legs were covered with midthigh black shorts with weapons pouches on both thighs. Wrapped up her calves were more bindings that tucked into her sandals. Her upper calves were bear with her storage seals for weapons. Her lower thighs the same. Her right arm bared her ANBU tattoo. Down the rest of her arm were the other seals she'd been adding on. She had a few empty spaces on both arms for the others she had planned to add. There were even ones on her palms now. Those she'd added this morning when she realized her new outfit didn't look good with her Katana. So, they were stored in her palm seals.

Her hitai-ate rested around her neck since she'd allowed her hair down instead of bound in a braid. She also hoped that if she wasn't dressed in gear, people wouldn't approach her about shinobi business. Ahem, Sakumo.

"How long have you been here?" Minato asked.

Minashi shrugged. "Since before the sun rose. I got some really good sleep on Sunday and realized I was being a hermit. So I'm here to socialize." She smiled at him. He nodded and thrummed his fingers on his thigh. She went back to reading and waited to see how long it would take him to ask.

Apparently two minutes was his limit.

"Can you help me with something?" Minato asked. Minashi looked at him inquiringly. "I'm having issues with increasing my distance with the Hiraishin. Every time I do, it eats up my chakra."

Minashi smiled and nodded. "Let me see your notes." She set the manuscript between her and the arm of the couch.

Minato sighed and pulled out a notebook from his vest. "See here, I added in this element to extend my range-"

"NO!" A voice roared. "I will NOT!" a familiar voice shouted

"But we're already here." A painfully fake sweet voice called back. Another familiar voice.

Minashi and Minato looked up from the Fuuin notes they were working on to see the commotion at the door.

"LET ME GO!" a third voice shouted

"NO! I SUFFERED HER FOR EIGHT YEARS! YOU WILL NOW SUFFER WITH ME YOU COWARD!"

"Oh stop being such babies!"

Chakra flared on Minashi's senses before two orange blurs flew through the Jounin lounge doors by gold chains. Kushina walked in with a Cheshire grin.

"Good Morning everyone! Isn't it a lovely day?"

"Kushina!" Hizashi shouted from the pile him and another orange lump were.

"What?" She smiled innocently at him. He just glowered at her even as his twin sat up and gave her the same glare.

"Remove it." Hiashi glared.

"I didn't do it. I can't remove it." She smirked bigger. They groaned and stood up.

"Are you Orange?" an older Jounin approached them.

"Yes." Hiashi grit through his teeth. "It seems the Hyuuga have been hit by the Konoha Prankster."

The Lounge broke out in laughter and snickering. Even poor Minato was trying to cover them up. Minashi just smirked at them. She loved basking in her work. They hadn't been out of the compound long. They were still a neon orange.

Violet eyes caught hers and they brightened.

"Kitsune-san!" she smiled and walked over to her. "Wow I've never seen you here before."

"I just returned from a mission and was given some vacation time. Hokage insisted I take it to get to know my peers and let them get to know me."

Kushina beamed and moved to sit beside Minato.

"Wonderful! Minato here has nothing but praises for you. He'd been itching to get your advice on his Hiraishin."

"We were actually talking about it." Minato smiled at Kushina and kissed her cheek. "Hello love, when did you get in?"

"This morning. I heard you were back and pushed my team back home so I could see you." She beamed. "Plus, I've missed our Imouto." Kushina pouted. "She was already at the academy when I got back." Her eyes then twinkled. "Then when walking home, I found an Orange Hyuuga shopping in the Market. So, I hunted my friend Hizashi down to see if it was the same as the Uchiha's prank."

Movement caught Minashi's gaze and she watched as two orange eyesores sat across from them on the other couch.

"You two are also seal masters?" Hizashi asked to Minato and Kitsune.

"Hai." Minato said evenly. "Hai~" Minashi smirked.

Hiashi eyed her suspiciously. "Did either of you do this?"

"We've been gone on a mission. Just got back. We wouldn't have had time to play such a prank." Minashi said relaxing back and crossing one leg over the other. She leaned against the armrest and eyed the young twin Hyuuga heirs.

"Can you undo it at least?" Hizashi asked.

"Not without seeing the seal that was activated." Minato provided. "We couldn't even begin a counter seal without seeing the original. If we did it without one, we risked making it worse, or blowing the compound up." He shrugged.

"Fuuinjutsu is a delicate art." Minashi smirked. "Your prankster has my respect. This is art at its finest."

Kushina snickered on Minato's lap.

"This is not Art!" a sharp voice snapped joining their group. Minashi looked up and found Fugaku standing with an exasperated Mikoto.

"MIKO!" Kushina cheered and launched at her best friend. "Look at Hizashi!" she giggled.

Mikoto chuckled as she caught and hugged her excitable friend. She looked at her other teammate over Kushina's shoulder.

"Looking good Hizashi." She smirked. He groaned.

"I know you did this!" Fugaku hissed as his eyes bled red.

"Did what?" Minashi raised a black brow at him before tilting her head at him. "Uchiha, are you wearing a genjutsu?" She smirked.

Fugaku blanked his face.

"You are." She smirked. "Your prank hasn't worn off yet either."

Fugaku just growled at her.

"So, you admit to being the prankster?" Hiashi asked glaring.

"What makes you two think I'm the prankster?" she questioned back.

"They didn't start until you suddenly appeared." Fugaku spat.

"Coincidence." Minashi snorted.

"You're lying." Fugaku smiled arrogantly. Minashi stared into his red eyes and he blinked surprised as her face blanked of all emotion. She felt Kurama growl in her head and soothed him back.

"I respect your clan for their skills Uchiha." She said void of emotion. "Let this be a warning though. I will beat your ass all the way to the moon and back if you even turn those eyes on a comrade again. Those are tools. NOTHING more. Your clan is arrogant thinking their eyes make their more superior. All they make you is a target." She slid her eyes to the Hyuuga twins. "As are your eyes. They make you arrogant. Make you think you're better than everyone else. But you aren't. Your dependency on your eyes makes you Predictable." She glared and looked back at the glowering Uchiha who still had his red eyes on her.

She slowly stood up and stepped into Fugaku's bubble until their faces were only inches apart.

"I, Kitsune, Have nothing to do with these pranks."

Fugaku cursed.

"Now turn off your eyes Uchiha, before I make you." She snarled letting her killer intent lash out.

Fugaku paled at the potency and backed up two steps very quickly. His eyes were off before he'd even moved though. The scent of fear filled her nostrils making her nose itch.

"We are all here for the same reason. To protect the people precious to us. We are never to turn our tools and weapons upon each other with malicious intent. Next time, I'll seal them away in punishment." She threatened.

Fugaku paled. "That would spark-"

"Nothing." Minashi snapped sharply. "You had no right to turn those eyes against me. I have done nothing wrong. You were not authorized to use those eyes of yours to check for lies. I am not a suspected enemy of Konoha. You broke a law Fugaku Uchiha."

Fugaku swallowed thickly.

"Remember your place." She warned with narrowed eyes. "You are the head of the Konoha Police task force. You are not on duty. You are not allowed to have your eyes turned on a citizen of Konoha unless ordered to when the citizen is suspected as an enemy. Get your shit together Uchiha." She pointed at him. "Your Task force is there to protect the shinobi and civilians alike. Not to abuse your power."

"I don't-"

"I'm sure you don't, but you just did." She took in a deep breath and looked at him as she reeled in her anger. "You let your emotions get the better of you. There are very few situations where that is helpful. I'm not saying to be emotionless assholes but learn when to stow your shit. There was another way to get the truth from me."

"How?" he said a bit calmer.

"Asked to prove my innocence by activating your eyes with my permission."

Fugaku blinked before looking down ashamed.

"You are a good man, but you need to work on your bad qualities." Minashi said before taking her seat. "That goes for you two as well." She said shooting a glance to the Hyuuga brothers. They shared glances before sighing and giving her a nod of their heads, saying they understood her message.

The lounge was quieter than before but slowly went back to normal. Kushina and Mikoto had moved away for some girl talk. Minato had dismissed himself to work on the changes Minashi had suggested. The Hyuuga and Uchiha heirs were gone as well. She was a little miffed they never apologized.

Minashi felt her ANBU tattoo burn slightly around lunch time. She ignored it. She knew Hiruzen was summoning her to talk with Sakumo.

No, thank you. She mused and continued editing.

Thirty minutes later it burned stronger and she glared at it.

"Che." She tisked and pulled out a brush and her special ink.

"Whoah." Kushina whispered across the room. She rushed over to sit beside Minashi and eyed the ink bottle on Minashi's thigh. "That's some potent sealing ink."

"Yep." Minashi mumbled as she used her thin brush to begin the second seal around her ANBU tattoo. The first was to hide it from Kushina and Minato, it was deactivated of course when she was in Kitsune mode. This next seal would nullify the summons call when activated.

Kushina's eyes widened as she saw the Fuuin. "You're Blocking the Summons!" she exclaimed as she paled. "WHY would you do that! That's Hokage-Ji-san!"

Minashi smirked. "I'm aware. I'm also aware of why he is attempting to summon me when I didn't go to his office first thing this morning to his paper summons."

"You're ignoring the call of the Hokage?" A new voice asked. Minashi waited until she finished activating the second seal to look up. She blinked when she had a flash of déjà vu. It took her a minute to separate the faces.

"Yes." She finally answered and put her supplies back in a wrist seal.

"That is bold." Shikaku Nara said as he eyed her up and down.

"Kitsune-sama, Pardon my teammate's bluntness." Inoichi smiled.

"He's a Nara. It's assumed." She shrugged.

"You already know who we are." Shikaku stated.

Minashi shrugged. "Well I've been around a while; plus isn't it prominent that ANBU know who Clan Heirs are?"

Shikaku hummed.

"That and your fathers are famous. Well the Ino-shika-cho trio is famous. Your clans have been together since you joined Konoha. You three have always worked best together and have always gotten along better than any clan of Konoha."

Choza chuckled and grabbed a seat. "So, you don't think we're predictable?"

Minashi raised a brow.

"Shinobi gossip." He supplied.

"That and a few irate Clan heirs asking in passing if their clans were predictable." Inoichi smirked and took a seat. Shikaku sat across from Minashi not taking his eyes off her.

"Oh boy." Kushina sighed.

"Yes." Shikaku said sharp eyes looking all over Minashi. "It seems that someone must have gotten into Fugaku's head. He wasn't nearly as troublesome to talk to as normal."

"Well, there was a little chat here earlier between Fugaku, and the Hyuuga brothers against Kitsune-san." Kushina smiled tightly. "Fugaku apparently broke a law and Kitsune called him out on it. Yet didn't turn him in."

"He's a brat that forgot his place." Minashi grunted. "He's been reminded and will reflect on his actions." She stated simply. Shikaku raised a brow at her. His right hand raised to finger the scars on his face. They looked recent. Flesh still pink, but skin no longer red with irritation.

Kushina squirmed beside Minashi when the silence stretched out as Minashi and Shikaku continued to stare at each other.

"W-well, I'm going to go find Hizashi and tease him some more. Hopefully get some pictures." She rambled before escaping the Jounin lounge.

"Do you play Shogi?" Shikaku finally asked.

Minashi hummed without changing expressions. "Maybe."

Shikaku reached back to his pouch and pulled out a medium portable set.

"Care for a round?"

Minashi nodded. He set up the board. "You sure you want to do this Nara?" she asked as they leaned over the board. Dark eyes glanced up when all the pieces were in position.

"Hai. You are an Unknown still. Even with all the good you have been doing and have done for the village, my father and I do not have a good hold on just who you are. Not to mention what you are capable of. Everyone knows you are skilled since you are ANBU. This doesn't even include your relationship with the Hokage. Father reported that you have the Hokage's complete trust. What Father and I both want to know is how you tick. How do you think? How do you plan strategy? Tactics? Where are you from? Who in Konoha are you really protecting? Why move the Kyuubi when it was perfectly safe?"

With every sentence they took their turns, having the game move quickly. Minashi only sparing a glance when it was her turn. Otherwise she stared at the Nara that hadn't looked up from the board, observing her moves.

"My story if for the Hokage only. He knows my mission." She said evenly. Shikaku paused as he placed down his next piece. Minashi took her turn and eyed the board. She felt his eyes on her.

"So, you do have an alternative motive for coming out of the shadows." He frowned and looked back at the board. Minashi looked back up smirking.

"Hai."

"What?" Click.

"To protect Konoha." Click.

"That's it?" Shikaku asked snapping his gaze back to her. Click. Minashi looked back up from the board smiling kindly.

"That's it." He stared at her looking for a lie. Minashi's gaze went out of focus when she felt the hair on the back of her neck raise like she was being watched. Jiji was spying again. She then realized that the person she was avoiding was rushing towards her. "Well, seems like our time is up."

She stood and gave respectful bows to the clan heirs. "I hope to chat again soon."

"We aren't finished." Shikaku groused.

"Aren't we?" she smirked and disappeared in a swirl.

Shikaku snapped his gaze back down at the board. His jaw dropped. Inoichi and Choza leaned forward and choked.

"She won!" Inoichi gasped.

Shikaku frowned at the board as his hand came up and covered his mouth. His mind replayed the game over and couldn't find a solid strategy in her moves.

"Hatake-san!" Choza yelped started. Inoichi jumped up as well to see the older man glaring into the room.

"Where did she go?" He frowned.

"Rumors are she's a sensor." Shikaku said absently. "She felt you coming. She also was putting a seal over her ANBU tattoo when we arrived. Apparently to ignore the summons." He sighed and leaned back. "Well shit. She went right for the kill. I thought I had blocked that route."

Sakumo walked over and looked the board over. "Highly aggressive attack." He tilted his head at it. "Although, it looks like there were a lot of decoys made of the higher pieces. You fell into her trap."

"I've never seen this type of trap before." Shikaku muttered.

"Any idea where she went?" he asked again.

"She disappeared in a black swirl like flash." Choza provided.

Sakumo grunted and summoned up a medium brown and black wolf. "Where was she sitting?"

Shikaku pointed across from him. The wolf moved to take a sniff.

"Anything Niwa?"

The wolf sniffed again, but instead sneezed. "No, but someone needs to wash that. There are faint scents of blood. No female scents on it from recently besides Kushina-chan."

Sakumo stared at Niwa. "She doesn't have a scent."

"Sorry Sakumo-sama."

Sakumo rubbed at his eyes in annoyance. "Thank you Niwa." He bowed his head and disappeared in a puff of smoke. "I'm sure you can hunt her down Sakumo. It's just one ANBU woman. I'm sure you'll earn her respect if you can catch her. Maybe even respect her in return if she evades capture. You Are one of my best trackers Sakumo." Sakumo mimicked his esteemed Hokage. "Crazy old man is toying with me. That Female is in on his games. I Know it." He muttered on a growl leaving a silent Jounin lounge.

Silence reigned for a few heart beats.

"Well that was interesting." Inoichi smirked. "Someone is getting under the White Fang's skin."

"More like testing his legendary patience." Shikaku countered.

"Why do I feel like Konoha is going to continue to get interesting?" Choza mused while munching on his snack.

Shikaku sighed. "Because we have an unknown prankster running around targeting clans and an Unknown Kunoichi popping out of the shadows and flipping Konoha upside down at the same time."

Choza just hummed and took another bite.

"I wonder if my dad knows anything about her." Inoichi mused.